TUPELO, Miss. – In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, North Mississippi Health Services is offering lung cancer screening with low dose CT for $99 during November.

“Early detection is key in the fight against lung cancer,” said Daniel Lenard, NMHS vice president for oncology and radiology. “A low dose CT screening can provide a critical opportunity to identify lung cancer at its most treatable stage.”

The $99 screening requires an order from a health care provider but is available to anyone concerned about lung cancer risk. The offer applies to scans performed during November.

The special promotion for lung cancer screening is available at Medical Imaging at Barnes Crossing in Tupelo and NMHS hospitals in Amory, Eupora, Iuka, Pontotoc and West Point, Mississippi, and Hamilton, Alabama.

“Low dose CT doesn’t require needles or special preparation,” said Gary Tedford, NMHS director of radiology. “The scan takes less than a minute to complete.”

The $99 screening is not billed to insurance, and payment is required before the test.

To request a screening:

• Visit nmhs.net/lung-screening-quiz and request an appointment to discuss your lung health
• Call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375)
• Talk to your primary care provider

Any symptoms like chronic cough or trouble breathing should be evaluated separately from screening.

It is not necessary to meet the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria to be eligible for the $99 special screening during November. Most insurers will cover lung cancer screening with low dose CT for those who meet the USPSTF criteria:

• Ages 50-80
• Current smoker or has smoked within the past 15 years
• 20 pack-year+ history